Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 08:34 AM

Kendall is coming over to work his magic on my now defunct kitchen faucet. Anyone who has visited me within the past year will not be surprised. Turning off the drip is a trip.
Roof postponed to the spring. Teeth take priority.

Meantime I am still working full time and able to pay for stuff. Plus I thoroughly enjoy the people I work with. Hilarious tales of weekend dates, car troubles and young people's stuff. Sometimes I feel paid to laugh.

Promised my brother I would continue to eliminate one box of crap per week so that if I die suddenly he won't have to deal with it. He doesn't care that there are antiques in the boxes in the eaves. He says they are headed to the dumpster. heh heh

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 08:40 AM

W y s i w y G !, thanks for the ideas and the encouragement.

I don't have a lot of research time right this moment because I have to get Tom settled so I can go to a medical appointment of my own this morning. (And pick up some meds for him on the way home.)

With a quick search though I found a website that has a lot of options/ideas that hadn't even occurred to me. So I sent it on to Tom's case manager.

My R&R music therapy last night was really nice -- a bunch of singers I'd not met before (though I know the couple who run it and the couple who own the venue).

And no real drama when I got home, despite Tom having some sort of problem with the phone in the middle of the evening and having "lost" his emergency button (it was twisted around onto his back, probably when he took his shirt off).

Thanks for the ideas!

Linn

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 11:36 AM

Linn, I know you will know what is best.

More than anything else I just want to encourage you to remember that no matter how it feels each day, or how crappy managed care is--

You really, really do not have to do it all alone, singlehandedly.

Managed care will use you up, if you let it. Remember caregivers get perks too, and that your MudBuds can look up crap you might not have time to do. And then boss us around! :~)

~Susan
(and prayin')

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 03:26 PM

Well, today was not without "drama"...

While sitting in the exam room waiting for my doctor, I got a call from the emergency service (Tom's "button"). He used it, they ascertained it wasn't accidentally deployed, and sent the EMTs. He had tried to get from the wheelchair into the recliner, and thought one arm of the chair was the other...and sat on the floor. EMTs came and gave him a lift assist back into the wheelchair.

The upside is we know the system works.

Tom is still somewhat in denial about his blindness and just seems to have problems with the concept of relearning how to do things without sight and how to be very careful and cautious about every move -- such as making sure that chair is behind him when he sits down. I guess the good thing is every time something like this happens, Tom DOES learn from it.

He finally admitted this afternoon that he needs something on the "answer" or "send" button on the phone (already oversized as is everything on this phone) so he actually hits the right button to answer a call or place a call.

It's very frustrating for me to have to deal with a very intelligent man who can't seem to figure out the work arounds he NEEDS to figure out in order to make his life safer and less stressful. He's NOT a child. He's a very capable, bright and creative man. But sometimes I sure wish he'd ACT like it!

Linn

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: ragdall
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 04:02 PM

Linn, It's so hard to understand why things that seem obvious to us, don't seem as obvious to them. Eventually Tom will "get it". In the meantime, he's fortunate to have someone as caring and patient as you to help him.

My decluttering in the garden was put on hold today with what appears to be the start of our usual six months of snow. Last week's 1600 km "Adoration of the Infant", (grandchild #15), trip, prevented me from preparing my two big flower beds for winter. I'm hoping that there may yet be a melt that will allow me to access them, but will have to wait and see. I was able to rake up and compost most of the fallen leaves before it snowed, the night that we arrived home.

I loaded all the toys from my roof space that would fit into my Vibe for the baby's older siblings to enjoy. Slowly, the roof space is becoming less full. Somehow, I have to empty it faster. I can't put off getting my knees done much longer.

rags

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 04:18 PM

Rags, I've been dying to get out into the garden. Weather and work have complicated it a bit. I think this weekend will have to be the one, because frost is beginning to threaten in some of these overnight forecasts. I tossed a blanket over the Patchouli last night - I need to pick those leaves to dry them in the house, not let them get clobbered by frost first.

I have decluttered the Secret Santa list and all assignments have been made. I'm sure there will be a few stragglers, but I haven't heard from them yet.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 06:09 PM

I just revived the "Curmudgeon In Hospital" thread as he is, indeed, on his way back to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.

I'll be following as soon as I make all the notifications that I need to.

Linn

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 08:04 PM

((((Linn)))

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Nov 13 - 09:12 PM

OH, Linn!

And, as usual, all I have to worry about is a scrungy little raccoon, who is getting way too nippy and needs way too much wrestling. Long talk with my NY rehabber friend the other night: messaged a Mohawk friend who MAY be able to help. She would have friends both sides of the darn border. If only I could smuggle him into NY, Amy would help. But she offered to come up and help build a living space for him. In the spring, when the hormones flow, if released he would probably get et, not having a team to back him up. That's what friends are for!

The super news is that yesterday was a happy, happy day. I was able to fire the kiln on Tuesday night, then reload it and fire again last night. Did a great deal of organizing in the studio and threw a dozen small tumblers to fill an order for two - on hold since last May! Those were the first firings since 17 May. R put a bunch of shelves in the storage area so I can pre-sort things before taking them into the studio. I still need to get the shelves in place in the studio. It is wonderful to have space to properly organize.

And I continue to delight in the K cabinets!

Went into the city last night, had hot bath and good sleep - no coughing! Did two loads of laundry this morning, sorted between city and country. Filled four gallon jugs with city water for the studio; info on line indicates the orange country water could be causing glaze problems.

Came back out this afternoon in time to go to writer's group and replenish books supply at the library. Then home to the lonely raccoon, so starved for attention he drove me away but I lasted about an hour and a half. He needs R to rough house with him.

Now I will rest up, go to bed early and look forward to searching assiduously for the glaze recipes which are now critical. Then hope to have enough energy left to throw some more pots to fill orders that are 3 months old. Several teapots are needed and they are SUCH a pain!

And Thinking of Linn, thinking of Linn, thinking of Linn...

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Nov 13 - 01:01 PM

It's a lovely day outside today, and if it dries enough I'll head out and mow the lawn. The winter grass is sprouting and looks like rye (but I don't plant rye, so I know it is the cheat grass or whatever they call it.)

Lots to do this weekend. I'll post results, not plans.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: GUEST,Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Nov 13 - 06:17 PM

OK, last night's "GUEST" was me again! WHY???

Anyway, After I survived a lot of coughing last night and got my self moving this morning, I went on the serious SEARCH for glaze recipe notebooks. TWO hours of lifting and moving a million boxes and then going back to see if there was any box hiding somewhere, then checking every nook and cranny of the storage area--- maybe in a pile of papers. And, LO! aching in every joint and muscle, there they were, under a cook book and mixed in with other papers which had been in the house, not in the studio. I must have been looking them over in the cabin just before the dreadful move. Does this not say a great deal for de-cluttering????

Oh, YAY!!! I did find them. But now I was too tired to do anything but take myself out for a celebratory lunch. And picked up a few groceries and came back and have just sat and computered, Off to the cafe in a few minutes.

But also have a line on a placement for the furball!!! I am to phone at 8 pm.

Bruno never came back yet and floors have not been done. But the studio is in good shape and tomorrow, if nothing intervenes, I can sort out glazing materials and start mixing new buckets of glazes and some smaller batches of test glazes - to try out something new and to, hopefully, replace the cobalt blue and, with any luck, the softer sky blue.

Cold grey day with a few tentative white flakes. In the search, I found our winter clothes!!! and the brush/scrapers for the vehicles. My snow tires are not found and I wonder if they were deemed finito at the end of last season. Must do something SOON!

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 08 Nov 13 - 10:52 PM

Great Day! Glaze recipes found. Ralphie goes to a rehab center on Sunday! And I finally figured out that I needed to re-set my cookie lest I be always a guest. Now I can go to bed, perchance to sleep, she says hopefully.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Nov 13 - 10:41 AM

I had thought about heading home early when I posted yesterday, but decided instead to use the time to go through some of the training videos offered by the Lynda subscription in place on our campus. Since you can come and go and gradually work through these courses I had a few I needed to finish and then print out the certificates for my own reference.

This morning I went through my master list of online accounts and pulled out the pages that are no longer relevant, and compressed some information from two pages to one. Shredded the discards and that notebook now works better (it had reached a point where opening the three rings meant pages were going to pop out of the book. Rather than move it to a larger book, I need to keep weeding unused stuff.)

In general I'm compressing my office into a space for my personal work because I am no longer working at home for my employer. The dean and her second in command have banned telecommuting. This organizing and purging has opened up space in file drawers and I'm rearranging some of the books near the computer and there will be additional changes. I'm also bringing home personal books and objects that I had at work, basically anything I would have to pack up if I leave for a new job. I want to be able to pick up my purse and walk out of the building when the time comes. Yes, it really is that bad at the library where I work. Sad to say. [Trying so very hard not to burn bridges. . . ]

The weather report says the afternoon will be sunny, but right now the day is gloomy and gray. I'll work inside until it brightens. I'd love to make a big dent in the weeds and finally get my broccoli and onions planted.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Nov 13 - 11:25 AM

SRS,
In general I'm compressing my office into a space for my personal work because I am no longer working at home for my employer.

YES!!! This is what I have been doing as well, for different reasons, but YES.

In OUR space we work for US. From that base we can do work for others but first we must work for ourselves.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Nov 13 - 02:43 PM

A recent fitness trend is described in a book, Move a Little, Lose a Lot (see Amazon). One feature is standing at your desktops-- some people have treadmill workstations-- so you can move more while you work.

It took 5 minutes, using items in my LR, to put this laptop at dancing height. Feel free to join me!

~Susan
(doing the Wobble)

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Nov 13 - 05:01 PM

We have a treadmill with a desktop in front of it at work and though I've used it stationary, I should go up and work on it moving occasionally. Thanks for the reminder.

Front yard mowed, came in for a cool down, now out to the back. That part of the job is more complex - I must scoop before I mow, and since I'm going to scoop I also take out anything to compost from the kitchen. When I commingle dog droppings with the food trimmings then the dogs leave it all alone. :)

While out front I got some photos of the hornworms that were chowing down on the penta flowers in the front bed. I mashed one plain old (but very large) caterpillar, then realize I had several of the hornworm variety at work also.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 Nov 13 - 07:09 PM

Baby steps, but things DO get accomplished...

First off, went to the Nottingham library sale this morning...and I was GOOD. I "won" (meaning I purchased fewer books than I donated -- and at least one of them is going to be a gift, to boot). One of the librarians pointed out, though, that the sale isn't over today. All week it will be 2 bucks a bag so I have plenty of opportunity to fall off the wagon.

And on the way to the hospital I dropped off a large pile of magazines at Lee Urgent Care. Then in Dover I dropped off a bag of stuff (small, but every little bit helps) at Goodwill.

Keeping on keeping on...

Linn

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Nov 13 - 01:27 AM

I've cleared off about half of the surface of my computer desk and a large amount of paper and stuff off of my kitchen peninsula and table. I sent a big bag of shredded paper (commingled with bacon grease to make it very unappealing, just in case) out in the trash. Laundry and hand-washing out of the way.

I got some great photos in the garden this weekend. If I'm going to have a great big cutworm eating the pentas, at least it is interesting when it is a really unusual looking one.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: mouldy
Date: 11 Nov 13 - 09:01 AM

On the 'Cat for the first time in what seems ages, so thought I would drop in and say "Hi".
Weight-wise, I got to goal, after losing 32lbs ("goal" being 31). It just suddenly fell off when I only had about 5lbs to go. However, I think it was stress and worry over my daughter's split from her long-term boyfriend, and arrival at my house, with bag and baggage.

2 months later, she went back to him, and I am struggling now to maintain the status quo, even within the 5lbs leeway that WW gives. At least, having got to goal, I don't have to weigh in more than a few times a year, and I have the tools to get rid again, if needed.

This year's home improvements have centred mainly on the shed and garden. I got guttering and flashings sorted on the outbuildings, and had the door and windows upgraded on the shed/outhouse/workroom. The pet project was the gazebo in the corner of the patio, and the "up-cycling" of an old butcher's block into a table to use with it.

Next in line has got to be restoration of the front door and windows. The joiner was going to come and fettle the door, but I doubt he'll come this winter. The windows will have to come out and be taken away for restoration. I can't replace them without permission, as they are the 190 year old originals, and protected. A summer job, methinks!

None of the work that needs doing on the house can be done on a low budget, unfortunately, as it needs to be done with traditional materials and skills. It'll just have to be a bit at a time.

I could do with sorting the back garden a bit, but it's cold and damp out there!

Andrea xx

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Nov 13 - 10:50 AM

The charm of an old house comes with a price here also, if it is recognized as a historic dwelling, but a lot of times people change them or tear them down and thumb their noses at the glacial-speed of authority that should protect them.

My files are lighter after some filing and shredding (mentioned above). I had a couple of things to file this morning and there was no pulling the folder out a ways to shove the document in, it just dropped in easily.

Here is my hornworm photo made public on my Flickr account. I love the composition of this - he's such a striking character!

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 11 Nov 13 - 08:53 PM

I posted here this morning.....not sure where it went.

:/

Michelle

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 12 Nov 13 - 08:30 AM

"Move a Little, Lose a Lot" sounds like good lines for a song. Ah, yes. Reminds me of a song: "Give a little, get a lot!" by a dear friend. Time to re-listen.

Good to see Linn making progress in a determined manner. I think of her as I move through my so much less stressful days.

Sunday, trip to Ontario to deliver poor little Ralphie to the next step, and kind arms, of his journey. They would take him on to a rehab center where he would be introduced, carefully, to other raccoons. Hopefully, he will spend the winter learning to be a raccoon so he can be released in the spring.

I stopped for a leisurely brunch on the way back at a Tim Horton's on the highway. In Ontario I can get sour cream donuts without glaze. I treated myself to nice soup with a small bun, hot chocolate and a donut and read my book. It was only 86 miles each way but it was a treat to be where everyone speaks English and I always find it a treat to go in a different direction, Also filled up with cheaper gas.

Strangely, I kept thinking of Ralphie and had to remind myself he is not in the car anymore. He was a pesky guy but two weeks was long enough for him to become a part of my life. When I got back to the mill, I started putting the sun room back into pre-raccoon condition, missing him but also wanting to wash him out of my life! We shall always hope for him a good raccoon life which we could not provide.

Nearing home, I remembered a friend was at a craft show in - ah, THAT"S where St. Barbe is! So I stopped for some of her wonderful brownies and found a nifty hand made card which I am sending to son's wife and her mom make neat things like that. And purchased a hand woven blue and white cloth. A strange size but very nice and made right there - where the women still weave and knit and crochet... The goods were different from other craft shows just a few miles away. A tiny show in a tiny community centre but another treat on that rainy day.

Having gotten up at 5:30 am, I soon bottomed out and was back in bed by 7:30, after reporting back to the woman who had passed him to me. She was SO happy.

Monday I got up and into the studio with determination and energy! Threw parts for six small teapots and a bunch of small lids for jars. Then went to lunch with a friend. When I got back, I decided I was tired of looking at the RAIN! So I came to the city to take a hot bath. R came home for a nice supper and then went back to work. I had my bath, read and went to bed.

Now, I have finished the computering for now and maybe R is ready to get up and have brekkie. Still grey out there but I hope to go back and finish those tea pots, mix glazes and get things done! The more I accomplish, the more energized I am to do more. Mustn't break the spell!

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Nov 13 - 06:04 PM

We're due a hard freeze overnight (we didn't have a frost this year, just this hard freeze to start with). I spent a couple of hours in the garden cutting up plants and trimming off all of the produce. I have buckets of hot peppers (jalapeno and poblano) and bell peppers and sweet banana peppers. I have a basket of lovely green tomatoes, and a big tub full of eggplants. The sink has a large bunch of basil. I dug up some little patches of cilantro and put them in the little pots that my broccoli came in. I planted the broccoli this morning to get it into the ground to protect it a little. It has it's own kind of anti-freeze, but the roots need to be in the ground for that to work.

Whoosh! Lots of cutting and freezing this week!

After that (it was a cool windy morning) a nice hot bath before heading over to work. It's my late day, so I'll be greeted this evening by hungry dogs and counters full of produce needing attention. It feels good to have got this before the freeze - and another opportunity to do some canning. I'm going to make some green tomato relish. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Nov 13 - 01:18 AM

Linn's news about Tom

and her

one day at a time message a little later.

Big hugs all around, Linn. Like Mary Garvey said, let others handle the logistics and you work on the loving. She said it very well.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Nov 13 - 10:51 AM

I turned around and drove back to the mill after brekkie. Stopped to make an appointment for new winter tires and a belt for the alternator on Friday - 8am!!! But the clever woman pointed out that if I were first there would be no one ahead of me and the danger of having to wait! She has recognized that I HATE to wait. I had, of course, forgotten that the former winter tires were pronounced dead last spring. Or, I think that since we cannot find them anywhere!

This small, local service centre seems to be reasonable. I informed them early on that their job is to keep my car in good running order for another 20 years, so they give me notice when anything needs future maintenance - like the alternator belt.

Then I stopped to pick up the local paper from a friend and had a chat with her. And, finally made it to the mill where I turned up the heat in studio, and dropped off 4 gallons of city water - in front of the heater to keep it warm. It seems, from reading clayart, that the orange country water could be the cause of a problem with some glazes.

Then I turned up the heat in the living space and made lunch. But it never seemed to get quite warm enough either place and I considered the cost of heating overnight vs the cost of driving back to the city house which is warmer. I checked the weather and ascertained it would be much warmer on Thurs and through the weekend. My potting friend Vanessa showed up as I was getting ready to leave. She was OK with the studio and was going to get some work done. I need to find warm short sleeve clothes. I'll go back down on Thurs and today, I will work on small stuff on the portable wheel upstairs.

R came home, rather glad to have me back and we had supper about 7:30 after which he fell asleep on the sofa, then went to bed about 9. He was excessively tired and did not get up 'til after 8 am. I read and computered until 10 and went to bed and got up at 7.

Did two loads of laundry yesterday and two more in progress today, including changing the bed. May wash two bed pillows as well. They seem to always smell. Maybe because they are foam? Mine are feather. Duh! I do believe there may be an extra feather pillow or two at the mill. Make a note of that!

This house is not very warm either. All little space heaters, carefully arranged due to poor electrical service. Cannot do laundry and have one heater on! Floors are like ice so I finally put a thick throw rug in front of my reading chair.

It is marvellous to have energy at long last! However, I have not weighed myself since the beginning of this environmental thing. I did wear a pair of pants that kept falling down the other day so they go back to the thrift shop. Need to find the scale and bring it back to the city. Once I started feeling better, I also starting eating everything in sight.

OK, check laundry and get to potting.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Nov 13 - 05:14 PM

Yesterday was "patch Tuesday" so I spent time updating computers last night and this morning. I have a couple more in the house to do later. They aren't used often, but when they're needed, it's nice if they're up to date. One is for guests in the guest bedroom, the other streams my NetFlix content in the kitchen. Hand-me-down computers - the old ones, if they still work, have a job they can do.

I need to list more on eBay, the three items there are getting a bit shopworn. Maybe this evening. But before I do anything else I finally need to finish the duvet cover for my down comforter. It's going on the bed tonight, I was freezing last night.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 09:27 AM

Space bags are my new best friends. Collecting craft fabric and yarn while living in a flat with little storage doesn't fit. Literally. I am packing fabric and yarn into space saver bags, vacuumming the air out and packing in boxes in the small single bedroom.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 12:28 PM

Last year I bought two large top sheets to make a duvet for my down comforter, but never got around to making it. I had considered various plans, but last night I decided I needed to act before another year passed and just get it done in the easiest manner. Those sheets probably cost about $25 each (they were on sale, but still not cheap, at Penneys.) I put right-sides together and stitched around three sides and from the fourth side I stitched in a couple of feet from each corner before turning it right side out. It took a bit of work to get the comforter in and spread out inside that case, and I am going to follow up by adding tabs or Velcro inside each corner to keep it distributed in the case. I need to make use of supplies I have already purchased, not just buy stuff for new projects. I was comfortable last night.

Tonight I'm going to bring in the coolers to empty then defrost the upright freezer. With all of these veggies to freeze I need to organize the contents first, discard anything too old, and figure where to put the new as it is cut up. I love how great the inside of this classic avocado green 1970s freezer looks with the ice gone. (Once it is empty I put a tray under it to catch water and use a hairdryer to melt the ice. The whole operation only takes about an hour.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 12:37 PM

P.S. - VT - those storage bags have a cognate in the kitchen. Last year I got myself one of those seal-a-meal machines and bought a big box of the make-your-own-size bag rolls and have been using it for meats so far. I'm going to test freezing some of the diced produce then putting it into bags and sealing to see how well and how long they last in the freezer. I'll package smaller amounts versus my big gallon-size zip lock bags.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: mg
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 01:21 PM

you can defrost instantly with no mess and no drips with a steamer..it just vaporizes the ice. just point it at the ice and it is gone. you don
t have to move anything around.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 02:21 PM

I don't have a steamer, but I do have a hair dryer. And the dripping would get into everything in there, if that's what you're thinking. If I'm visualizing the system you're proposing. I don't mind defrosting a couple of times a year - the freezer gets kind of disorganized over time and I lose track of some of the contents. It looks brand new after the ice is gone and the food returned to it is a reminder of how busy I've been in my garden.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 03:08 PM

Maggie - Duvet insertion made easy.

Turn the cover inside out.
Reach inside with both hands and grab the two adjacent top corners (like puppets).
Now grab the two corresponding corners of the duvet.
Lift and shake the cover down over the duvet.

I had been doing this trick for years, until recently. My shoulders can't take the strain now so Chris does it for me. He thinks it is a clever trick too.

Defrosting chest freezer - I sped the process up by putting a large roasting pan on folded towel in bottom of freezer and pouring boiling water from kettle into pan. Close the freezer and leave for 15 - 20 minutes and repeat several times. Also used wide plastic spatula to slide the chunks of ice off. This could be adapted for upright freezer I suppose.


Charmion - you are an inspiration. I am almost hoping to be made redundant so I can focus my energy on healthy lifestyle. Right now work sucks everything out me, mentally and physically.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: mg
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 03:57 PM

no drips with a good steamer...just steam that goes away into the air. it is a miracle trick.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 04:11 PM

I'll post before and after photos so you can see what I'm doing. I use a hair dryer (one that was my Dad's, Mary!) and a plastic spatula/pancake turner thing. I open the drain in the bottom of the cabinet and let the water drain through that hose into a large flat pan while I scoop off big chunks of melting ice and drop them into a bucket. If the freezer is pretty well frosted up this is about a four-bucket operation. It's quite satisfying to see the sparkling insides when the frost is out. This was built about 1975 so it isn't the most energy efficient, but it is a workhorse as far as having a large freezer that I could afford to buy (I got it a few years ago for $30 at an estate sale.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Nov 13 - 05:00 PM

Linn's husband, Tom Hall, passed away today. In addition to the Curmudgeon in Hospice thread, there is now an obit thread. I put it up quickly, thinking Kat would have often been the one to do that (another reason to be sad!) and hoping that the messiness of approaching death can remain in the older thread and the fond memories and (I hope) good stories will be left in the obit thread so Linn can find solace there.

We love you, Linn, and I want to offer a hug collective hug from all of us in this virtual-declutter and lifestyle group. Lean on us if it helps in the days ahead.

Maggie

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Nov 13 - 01:53 AM

It's rather anticlimactic to come back and report that I did indeed defrost the freezer, and put back a lot of bags and containers of things. I need some wire baskets to organize some of this stuff, I'll swing by the restaurant supply place and see if they have what I have in mind. After that, maybe Office Depot or the container store. I had an old wire in-basket from work that I used to organize some smaller frozen individual portions of meat (I use a Seal-a-meal now to repackage and freeze the meat I buy in the marked down section at my grocery store. The only way I can afford some of those nicer tender cuts, and in theory, aged meat tastes better!)

Off to bed. Tomorrow holds so much for a lot of people. Linn, when you wake up it may take a moment to dawn on you all that happened today, or you may awaken remembering everything instantly. But whatever else, remember to breathe. Eat regular meals and get plenty of sleep. Take care, all.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Nov 13 - 12:50 PM

I have concluded that after my $850 truck repair for the oil drip that I still have the exact same oil drip. Shit. I'm going to have to take it in again to the dealer because if they didn't do the job right they'll do the repair for free. Otherwise, I'd take it to my oil change garage (Goodyear.) Part II will follow one of these days soon. Just in time for the holidays, to spend more money on the pickup.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 12:05 AM

There's nothing like a lovely Friday morning with a garage sale and on my way to work today I saw both an estate sale and a garage sale! I picked up a pretty little tablet-top chiminea (looks like you could put a can of Sterno in the bottom) for $4 and at the estate sale I bought a cotton and polyester bedspread comforter for $12 that was folded and added to the bedding for the dogs out in their stall in the garage. I bring in what's out there every so often to wash it, and since we're into colder months they need more. It's a large and thickly padded spread and they were very happy to curl up on it right away.

Dishes, one more load of laundry, then to bed. I crave the weekends these days, because work offers so little reward. I guess I was lucky for a long time and didn't realize it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 02:43 PM

I'm still sorting and storing things I took out of the freezer. Pasta and grains don't need to stay in there forever, so I'm checking out my storage canisters and in some cases reassigning contents. I need to pick up a couple more and I have a good coupon.

Laundry is underway. Dog bedding is finished. What an incredible amount of hair came out of them in the dryer. I must remember to launder the bedding more often to avoid such a buildup.

Cutting up veggies after a (hopefully brief) shopping trip. I'm planning to make a new batch of beans this evening and bake some bread.

I know some of you have some pretty active lives so I'll push this up to the top every so often to keep it easy to find.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: maeve
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 03:18 PM

Just stopping in to scatter a heaping handful of encouragement, Maggie.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 06:45 PM

I got the official report from my sleep study. Ugh. Just ugh. I'm not sure how they can make a determination of anything. They reported I slept for 26 minutes during the entire study. No REM or other whatever they measure waves...well no kidding..I couldn't sleep! I was in the hospital wearing more jammies than I normally do, not my bed, hooked up to a bazillion wires, a camera watching me sleep.....how do they expect anyone to sleep there? Also, the bed reminded me of the ones in hospice...they look like a normal bed but then they have these steel pillars underneath that raise the bed up...CREEPY. Also, a Dr., who has never even seen me, wrote I need a gastric bypass. Um...seriously? I'm a big girl and yep, I need to lose a lot of weight but if he were a doctor who actually talked to me, he would know I lost over 100 pounds and regained it after my joints crapped out on me from chemo so my exercise of choice was ruled out and energy levels have been in the toilet for well over 3 years now (uh...sleep apnea ringing a bell here?) Give me a chance for f*cks sake! This weight WILL come off. I did it before and I AM doing it again!!   BACK OFF PEOPLE. GRRRRR. It pisses me off to NO END that a doctor who has never met me would suggest that kind of surgery....which..btw, I know MANY people who have had it, some who have had it twice and even one woman who had it done 3 times and I know of only ONE woman who was been able to maintain her weight loss. I am NOT a fan of this surgery and will NEVER consider it. I'd rather be where I am than put my body through that kind of butchering.

Ugh. The whole letter does nothing more than make me anxious.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 08:20 PM

Michelle, it sounds like you met some folks who made assumptions and rubber stamped the status quo.

Alice has reported having some success with some amber "blue blocker" glasses she wears in the evening, that help her get to sleep more easily by blocking the overhead, computer, and television blue rays (that cause wakefulness).

I did some targeted shopping today, containers for flour, beans, pasta, etc. Got some stuff for making a batch of beans tonight.

Thanks for the drop in, maeve!

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 09:32 AM

You tell 'em Michelle.

Left message for Linn on the Obit page.

Sending encouragement to all re health and life organisation goals.

I need to do some serious clearing and organising today at home. Next couple of weeks at work will be attempting to move thousands of hanging files. I work in a very large record office and I maintain the hardfiling of contracts and correspondence related to the records (8 miles of shelving in 8 repositories) we hold. We have run out of filing space so I located (in the building) and had moved 3 more (near 7 foot tall) lateral file cupboards. So for the last 2 weeks I have been snaking files along into the newly insalled cabinets. Probably more than 500 files already.

But I burned the back of my right hand today trying to turn a tin of muffins around in a narrow oven. I have a quarter (or 10 pence piece in UK) sized red burn with nearly the same size blister forming inside the red patch across the first 2 metacarpal phalangeal joints. I cooled the burn with tepid water. Chris is going to get me proper dressing for it. My skin is so thin from the chemo and other immuno suppressants and age.

I have cotton conservators' gloves at work so I can provide a bit more protection. Tomorrow should be interesting.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 12:31 PM

Take care of that VT, no need to tell you that burns can be tricky.

I've decluttered a couple of more pounds. I have about 15 to go, so I'm to the point where I may build in some exercise (I'm not a fan of the gym, I'll instead do some exercises while I watch television or maybe dance around the kitchen as I work. Photos will not follow. . . )

Taking a mental health break and going to a museum and lunch with a friend this afternoon. I always have a lot to do around here, so "something to do" is never a great excuse for not going out for a while. And I need to socialize more away from work. Even if it is with a retiree from work. ;)

Also working on a headshot for the Linked-In account I set up a while back. I need to do something with that, make it into a useful tool.

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 08:12 AM

Have a million disasters and potential disasters to deal with but put them all in their place with an English Muffin and some black and Blueberry Jam. Life is good.

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 11:58 AM

Whoo hoo! I moved the shoe rack in my closet, it used to be kind of out of sight behind the hanging slacks on the side of my closet with one high rod. As I've taken out all of the multiples of clothing that I had that fit me in different sizes (the size 16 and 14 are mostly gone now) I have more room, and on the other side where there is an upper rod (blouses) and lower rod (a few long t-shirts that are mostly sleep shirts now) I have a lot of empty room. So the shoe rack is over there and I can see everything.

I used to wear those long t-shirts as sleep shirts, and then as I gained weight I simply wore them around during the day, especially in the yard when I was working because they were long enough that they didn't pull up over my pants waistband when I was bent over weeding. (I would get sunburns on my lower back that way.) Now I'm wearing smaller t-shirts during the day and the big ones are used once again for sleeping in. I don't need so many so the tattered ones are in a rag bag.

A trip yesterday to Victoria's Secret was a lifesaver. Having stretched out the bras I had, then lost 33 pounds, I was swimming in them. I've tossed a few in recent weeks and I finally got into the store to get a couple that once again fit well.

In the kitchen I cut up a lot of veggies, still have many more to deal with. They're going into the freezer that now has more room in it after the defrost. I've done laundry, not only for me but all of the dog bedding. They're getting set up for the cooler weather, though I have to do some modifications in their stall in the garage - hopefully by next weekend. It isn't that much work, it's that I have to get started doing it. :-/

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 12:02 PM

SINS,

   I am following your lead and had two raisin English muffins to ward off all impending doom!!! ;)

   As it normally is on a Monday, my house is a disaster area. I almost have all the dishes done, laundry is all caught up but needs to be put away, general clutter abounds and is being picked up as I go. Jeremiah had his annual physical today which I am thrilled to say he passed with flying colors! He is 38.5 inches tall and weighs in at 38.5! :) He is right on track! YAY!

There are some serious sales going on this week in the grocery department. I am going to buy up a large amount of yams to can. Potatoes and cranberries too!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 02:53 PM

I tried making English muffins from scratch one time. They came out terrible, so I buy them by the bag if we want them, but we don't eat them often. I used to occasionally make baking powder biscuits for the kids for breakfast - though since we're not southerners we at them with jelly, not gravy. Our morning forms of bread are usually blueberry muffins, pancakes (buttermilk if I had it handy) or toasted bread (all made from scratch).

SRS

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 03:01 PM

Pete has made them from scratch a few times and they were good...time consuming but good! Our local market had Thomas's English Muffins for .97 a pack....NINETY SEVEN CENTS! Needless to say, we stocked up! They are normally a treat for us and we don't usually do toast or muffins for breakfast here. Oatmeal? Yes. Eggs? Yes! Fruit? Yes! Yogurt? Yes! :)

It's a lovely day outside so I'm off to pick up Jeremiah and we are going for a walk! YAY!

Michelle

Subject: RE: Fall into Winter Declutter & Fitness 2013
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 04:18 PM

I think I need to do something with MY LinkedIn account which I've been more or less ignoring since I set it up. I'll need to find a job at some point, but I don't have to immediately. Good thing because I have LOTS of work to do! NOW I have the time to get serious about selling stuff.

Tomorrow evening I'm going to a talk at the Portsmouth Library by Deirdre Randall (Peter E. Randall Publisher) on publishing options. Two birds with one stone. Both to hear the talk, but also to reconnect with Deirdre for whom I was going to do some proofreading and copyediting (for the clients who were willing to pay for it) before Tom's health started demanding so much of my time.

Finally had a chance today to start bagging some of Tom's clothes for Goodwill...and setting aside some articles for friends. Also de-accessioning a few other items to Goodwill. It's an ongoing project, but it's feeling really good to start filling bags with the easy stuff.

I tried to give Tom's old wheelchair to his cardiologist's office (it's narrower than most, and the York office is a bit cramped), but she gave me a couple other places to donate it and his walker, rollators, etc. Checked with the VNA to see if they could use the unopened wound dressing materials, but they're not allowed to. She did give me the name of one place that might be able to use them. And I need to research missionary and aid organizations (outside the US) that can use Tom's prescription meds.

Got Social Security notified and a bunch of other necessary phone calls made this morning. Submitted the information to the funeral home for Tom's obituary; I just don't have time to write one for the papers. Still have plenty of phone calls, emails, etc. to go.

I, who have always had at least one to-do list a day (combination list and journal) am existing in an absolute flurry of lists. It will all get done...it will all get done.

And I figured out why everybody gives widows food -- there's no time to cook in between phone calls...because this weekend, at least, there were NO "in betweens"!

Oh, and the upstairs phone died so I bought another one this morning and now have to program in the numbers.

And meanwhile in Milwaukee, my mother is going into hospice today.

All I can say is it's been quite a year...

Linn